Asahi Kasei will retain Polypore’s energy storage business, a maker of polymer membranes that separate the cathode and anode in batteries. As part of the deal, 3M (St. Paul, MN) will acquire the assets of Polypore’s separations media business, which produces membranes and membrane modules used in hemodialysis, blood oxygenation, plasmapheresis, other medical applications, for about $1 billion immediately prior to Asahi Kasei’s acquisition of Polypore....http://www.chemweek.com/lab/Asahi-Kasei-to-acquire-Polypore-in-deal-valued-at-$3-2-billion_68006.html

For better or worse, activists are likely to be a recurring theme in industry. Even with recent high-profile spats involving blue chips names, such as Air Products, Dow Chemical, and DuPont, activist activity is likely to expand to more companies. Activists are raising funds at an aggressive pace, and high-profile campaigns against chemical makers may draw others to the sector....http://www.chemweek.com/lab/Activists-advance_67962.html

One company, for now dubbed New Grace, will be comprised of catalysts technologies and materials technologies, excluding the Darex packaging business. New Grace is expected to have sales of $1.8 billion annually. The other company, called New GCP, will be made up of Grace’s construction products business and the Darex business. It is expected to have sales of $1.5 billion....http://www.chemweek.com/lab/W-R-Grace-to-split-in-two_67530.html